Shaft coupling



Oct. 3o, 1934. T G, MYERS 1,978,814

SHAFT GOUPLING A' Trax/van T, G. MYERS SHAFT GOUPLING Oct. 30, 1934.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1932 24 v M 9 w w, @a w W 4 8 3 7 a F5 W N. W. WM5 50W/WW M 7 w 56 7 Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE United States Electri pany, Los Angeles, Ca

forma cal Manufacturing Comlif., a corporation of Cali- Application May 14, 1932, Serial No. 611,348

4 Claims.

' My invention relates to a shaft-coupling device which nds particular utility in the deepwell pumping art, though not in all instances Vlimited thereto. It is in this capacity that I Will 'particularly describe my invention without being limited thereto.

Deep-well centrifugal pumps usually include a pump unit positioned in a Well and including one or more impellers which are secured to a "line shaft, this line shaft extending upward in the well to a pump head at the upper end thereof. The vertical position of the impellers with respect to the pump unit is determined by adjusting the vertical position of the upper end of the pump shaft with respect to the drive means which is usually incorporated in such a pump head. v

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved shaft-coupling device for a centrifugal 'pump in which the axial spacing of the lineI shaft and the drive shaft can be readily adjusted, thereby adjusting the position of the impellers with respect to the pump um't. It is a further object of the invention to pro- Jvide such a shaft-coupling device which is posi tioned below the drive means of a centrifugal pump. Y

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel shaft-coupling device which connects two shafts in adjustable axial position.

Further objects of the invention lie in the details ofconstruction of the forms of invention herein shown.

Further objects and advantages of the inven- -tion will be made evident hereinafter. A

Referring to the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a-diagrammatic view, partially in section, illustrating. the shaft-coupling device in conjunction with a centrifugal pump.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View of one form of shaft-coupling device taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig.3 is a medial sectional View taken line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

I Figs. 4 to 9 are vertical sectional views of alternate forms of the invention.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I have shown a pump unit 10 positioned in a well 11 and including one or more impellers 12 positioned in impeller chambers 13 thereof. These impellers are secured to a line shaft 14 which extends upward to the top of the well and into a pump head 15. This `pump head includes a discharge unit 18 in which a bearing 19 is mounted which on the journals the upper end of theline shaft 14. A

drive means 20, shown in the form of an electric motor 21 but not necessarily of this type,- is mounted above the discharge unit 18 and includes a drive shaft 24.

A shaft-coupling device 25 is positioned be- 60 tween the drive shaft 24 and the upper end of the line shaft 14 and drivably connects these shafts in such a manner that the relative axial positions thereof can be changed. This permits vertical adjustment of the impellers 12 65 with respect to the impeller chambers 13 so that the impellers do not frictionally engage the walls thereof.

The details of one form of the shaft-coupling device 25 are best shown in Figs. 2 and 70 3. Referring to these figures, the coupling device therein shown includes a body 26 providing a cavity 27 which receives the upper end of the line shaft 14. It is desirable that the line shaft 14 may be moved into and from the 75 cavity 27 thereby changing the axial position of the line shaft 14 with respect to the body 26. This may be accomplished by threading the upper end of the shaft and forming corresponding threads in the cavity 27, as shown in Fig. 2, but it should be understood that other types of connecting means which will permit axial adjustment between the line shaft 14 and the body 26,1nay be utilized. The upper end of the body 26 is secured to the lower end of the drive 85 shaft 24. This may be accomplished by various means. In the preferred embodiment of the invention this action is established by providing a threaded cavity 29 in the upper end of the body 2e, the lower end of the shaft 24 .90 being correspondingly threaded so as to be retained therein. Other means for securing the shaft 24 to the body 26 also are within the scope of this invention.

The cavities 27 and 29 open on a central 95 space 31, there being an outward extending passage 32 communicating between this central space and the exterior of the body 26. The Width of this passage 32 is greater than the diameter of the shafts 14 or 24 so that one or 1 more discs 35 may be moved therethrough and into the central space 31. When the shafts 14 and 24 are threaded into the body 26 their adjacent ends abut against these discs whereby these discs act as a spacer means for determining the relative axial positions of the shafts 14 and 26, these discs also locking the shafts relative to each other through the frictional engagement between the ends of these shafts and the l `insertion of, the desired number of discs. l`the other hand, in the .form shown in Fig. 2

2;. discs.A VAny number of these discs may be utilized to effect the desired axial spacing of the shafts.

If it is desired that the ends of the shafts be spaced a distance which is greater than the vertical dimension of the passage 32, several of these discs can' be .moved into the central space 31, and bythreading the shaft 14 outward with Vrespect to the cavity 27, these discs may be moved downward in the cavity 27, this being made possible due to the fact that the discs are smaller in diameter than the cavity 27.. This clears the central space 31 so that additional discs can be inserted therein after which the shaft 14 is threaded tightlyinto the .cavltyl and into abutting relationship with t-herdises.V

To change the axial position of the line shaft to properly position the impellers 12 yit .only necessary to slightly unscrew this line shaft and change the number of discs in the central space 31 after which the shaft 14 is again threaded into the cavity 27 until it abuts with the discs. During this adjusting operation the line shaft 14 need Ynot be removed from the cavity 27.

form of set-screws, clamping means, etc., well known in the art.

It is, of course, .possible to permanently `secure one of the shafts to the body 26. and allow the other shaft toA be partially removed to permit On earch of the shafts 14 and 24 may be partially withdrawn thereby facilitating the adjustment ofthe axial positionsV of the shafts.

VThe outward extending passage 32 is an important part'of this form of the invention, f or it vpermits the discs to be easily inserted in place while the shafts are connected to the body 26. So; also this passage permits visual inspection' ofV the number of discs utilized.

Another form of the invention is shown in Fig. 4 in which a female member 4 0 nis, threaded or otherwise secured to the lower end of the shaft 24vr and provides a flange 41. A space 42 is formed in the lower end of this member,'andr Y in the form shown Y'in Fig. 4, isthreaded to receive a boss4-3 ofa male member 44 which is suitably/secured to the shaft 14, as by being threaded thereto. By turning the member 44 with respect to themember 4l the axial positions of the shafts 14 and 24 are thus changed. Any

60... prisingstuds 46 extending through openings suitable lock meansffmay be `provided for locking .these members withv respect to each other when the 'shafts are in the desired position, In Fig. 4 I have shown this lock lmeans as com# 47,. of the flange 41 and being threaded into openings 48 of the member 44.

A somewhat similar structure is shown in l Fig. except that the space 42- is of-larger diameter,v .thus permitting studs 49 to be utilized as aglock means. These studs are threaded through the flange of the female member and extend intothe space 42 to pressurally .contact the male member, thus locking the male and female membersy when the shafts are in the desired axial position. Y

The form of theinvention shown in Fig. 6

differs fromthat shown in. Fig. 5 only in soffar' as the.locking..means is concerned; This lock-f.

ing means is shown in Fig. 6 as comprising one or more studs 51 which extend through openings 52 of the female member, these openings being larger than the studs. The lower ends of these studs are threaded into threaded holes 53 of the male member. When the shafts are inthe desired position, these studs are moved downward through the openings 52 and threaded into that one .of the openings 53 of the male member which is immediately therebelow.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7 ,the female member is indicated by the numeral and includes a flange 61. The lower end of this member. provides a cylindrical space or cavity 62 into which a boss 63 of a male member 64 slidably extends. Openings 65 are formed through the flange 61 and loosely receive studs 66 which are 4threaded into threaded openings 6'? of the male member 64. By turning the studsl 66 the-member 64 can be moved toward or away from .the member 60, thus ehanging the axial position of the shafts. Shims or ydises L68 are positioned between the flange 61 and the male member 64 and cooperate with the studs to form a locking means for 'the members 60 and 6,4.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig-.f 8 the female member is indicated by the numeral 70 andA is. secured to the upper'end Yof the shaft 14; In the form shown, this attachment is se.- cured by the use. of a key 71 carried by the shaft 1051 14and extending into a keyway 72 of ,the female member 7.0. In this form of the. invention the Ashaft 14 is not. threaded but .can slide axially with respect tothe member '70. Withdrawal of an annular split ring 73 positioned agroove 74 of the shaft l14, lthis ring resting against a shoulder '75'.of the member '70 .to .support the weight of the shaft 14 and its` annexed parts. This shoulder. is formed at the bottom of a cavityv 7- 6 this lcavity being `of such .diameter as to snugly retain the split ring '73 and prevent spreading thereof regardless of). the pull on the shaft 14.

The upper yend .of the female member 70 pro-Y 12d videsa eavityor space '77 in which a male mem.- ber 78 is slidable. The lower end of this male member provides a cavity 79 similar to the Cari-tir 76. an@ an annular Split site? S0 is pest. tioned thereink so asY to .engage the. end wall of 12d; the .cavity 7.9.. This split ring l? retainedina Channel 8 1 0f the. Shaft, 24,2. and; is prevented, from movement from the channel 8 1 duete the fast; that the vda,nfleter 0f: thaw/1h79 1S. stantially the same as vthe o the ring, thus preventing @.Shleflg lrf.

Theshaft 24 carries a key 83 which extends into@ keys/'ay 84er the memberv '15gg-as tel-nel?.- mit longitudinal movement but preclude 'rotatiye,v

movement of this memberV with respect to the 135g,

i female. member 70- to meende rotation 'therebetween.

'-he positionof the male-member 7.8,with-ire-y 14e.

spect to the female memberi) isv controlledby aV capy 88 threaded to the femalemembenand engaging the upper .end .0f the.male member-716.V As this cap is, turned the relative.` axial positions of thev shafts 14. and 24 are thus changed. These. .14.5"y

shafts may. be retained in thedesired axial posi-f tion either .bybringing the. endsA ofthe shafts into abutting relationship as shownin-Ffigiv 8 orby utilizing. shims or discs therebetween '-asJ1 previously. described.4

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 9 is similar to that shown in Fig. 8 with the exception that the annular rings are replaced by plates 90 and 91 respectively connected to the ends of the shafts 24 and 14 by any suitable means such as screws 92 and 93. The male member in this view is indicated by the numeral 94 and is moved into contact with the upper surface of the plate 90 through the action of a cap 95 threaded to the female member 96, this cap engaging an annular shoulder 97 of the male member 94 in effecting this end. The relative axial positions of the shafts 24 and 14 may be changed by changing the thickness of the plates 90 and 91 utilized, the cap 95 cooperating with these plates in defining a locking means. 'I'he members 94 and 96 are respectively keyed to the shafts 24 and 14 as shown.

In all of these forms of the invention it will be clear that it is possible to adjust the relative axial positions of the shafts without mechanically disconnecting these shafts. Thus, this adjustment may be made without dropping the impellers to the bottom of the impeller chambers. This is a very important feature of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a shaft-coupling device adapted to connect a drive shaft and a driven shaft and to determine the relative axial positions thereof, the combination of a body secured to one of said shafts and including a cavity into which the end of the other of said shafts extends, said body providing'a passage opening on said cavity and extending outward to open on the exterior of said body; and spacer means insertable into said cavity through said passage and against which said end of said one of said shafts abuts when moved into said cavity, the thickness of said spacer means thus determining the axial spacing of said shafts.

2. In a shaft-coupling device adapted to con- Y nect two shafts end to end in adjustable axial position relative to each other, the combination of z a body providing threaded cavities into which the ends of said shafts may be threaded, said cavities opening on a central space of said body,

said body providing an outward extending passage communicating with said central space and with the exterior of said body; and spacer means insertable into said central space through said passage and against which said shafts abut when threaded into their respective cavities for determining the axial spacing of said shafts.

3. In a shaft-coupling device adapted to transmit torsional and axial force between a driving shaft and a driven shaft, and permitting relative axial adjustment of said shafts, the combination of a body secured to one of said shafts and including a cavity into which the end of the other of said shaft extends, said body providing a passage communicating with said cavity and with the exterior of said body; spacer means insertable into said cavity through said passage and against which said end of one of said shafts abuts when moved into said cavity, the thickness of said spacer means determining the axial spacing of said shafts; and adjusting means cooperating with said body and said end of one of said shafts and serving to transmit the axial load of said coupling during the adjusting period.

4. In a shaft-coupling device adapted to transmit torsional and axial force between a driving shaft and a driven shaft, and permitting relative axial adjustment of said shafts, the combination of a body secured to one of said shafts and including a cavity into which the end of the other of said shafts extends; adjusting means constraining said end of said shaft to move in an axial direction in response to a relative angular motion between said body and said end of said shaft, said adjusting means serving to transmit the axial load of said coupling during the adjusting period; walls forming a passage in said body and extending outward to open on the exterior of said body; and spacer means insertable into said cavity through said passage and against which said end of said shaft abuts when moved into said cavity, the thickness of said spacer means determining the axial spacing of said shafts and serving to maintain the adjusted axial position of said shafts.

THOMAS G. MYERS. 

